If you’re applying for a new passport rather than renewing one, you must submit
- at least 1 valid document to support your identity
- You can submit the original or a photocopy of both sides.
- Remember that each photocopy must be signed and dated by your
- guarantor or
- signing official, if you used a Statutory Declaration in lieu of a Guarantor form
- additional documents if you’re changing your name, if applicable
If your passport is still valid, you must include it with your application. In some cases, you can use your Canadian passport as your identification document (ID).
On this page
- Requirements for your ID
- If your ID doesn’t have all the required information
- Types of ID you can use
- Using your Canadian passport as your ID
- If your passport has been expired for 1 year or less
- How to submit your ID
Requirements for your ID
To support your identity, your ID must
- be valid
- include your
- name
- date of birth
- photo
- signature
- be issued by a federal, provincial, territorial or state government authority, or the equivalent abroad
If you’re applying by mail, we recommend sending photocopies of your ID. If you send photocopies
- photocopy both sides of the ID
- have your guarantor or signing official sign them
- Learn how to submit your documents.
If your ID doesn’t have all the required information
You can include more than 1 ID if all of the required information isn’t on the same document. To prove that each document belongs to you, they must share at least 1 piece of information, such as your name. This is so we can be sure they all belong to you.
If your ID doesn’t have a signature
We may accept it if there isn’t normally a signature on that particular type of ID.
If your ID doesn’t have a date of issue
If it was issued to you without one, you can leave this field blank on the application form.
Types of ID you can use
You can use any of the following types of ID alone or in combination to meet the above requirements:
- Canadian passport
- driver’s licence issued by a province or territory, or the equivalent abroad
- health card issued by a province or territory, or the equivalent abroad
- Certificate of Indian Status
- military ID
- foreign passport
- non-driver’s licence issued by a province or territory, or the equivalent abroad
- ID card issued by the federal government, or a provincial or territorial government, or the equivalent abroad
- employee identification issued by the federal government, or a provincial or territorial government, or the equivalent abroad
You cannot use your social insurance number (SIN) card as ID.
If your ID isn’t in English or French, you must provide an official translation of it.
If your ID is expired and you can’t renew it due to COVID-19
If your expired ID meets the requirements, we’ll accept it as proof of your identity if the province, territory or state that issued it has temporarily extended its validity.
However, this doesn’t apply to Canadian passports. You can’t use your passport as proof of your identity if it’s been expired for more than 1 year.
Using your Canadian passport as your ID
You may be able to use your previous passport as your ID for your application.
If you got your previous passport when you were 16 or older
You can use your previous passport as ID if
- it was valid for 5 years or more when you got it
- it’s still valid or it has been expired for only 1 year or less
If you got your previous passport before you turned 16
You can use your previous passport as ID if
- it was valid for 5 years or more when you got it
- it’s still valid or it has been expired for only 1 year or less and
- you submit another piece of ID that’s
- government-issued
- valid
- has a common element, such as your name, to link your IDs
You can’t use your previous passport as ID if it
- has been expired for more than 1 year
- was a limited-validity passport of 2 years or less
- was damaged
- was reported lost or stolen
If your passport has been expired for 1 year or less
You can send us your original passport or a photocopy of pages 2 and 3.
If you send us photocopies, you must have them signed and dated by your guarantor or signing official.
How to submit your ID
Whether you apply by mail or in person, you can submit either original documents or photocopies with your application.
- If you apply in person
- We’ll check your ID when you submit your application.
- We’ll return it to you before you leave.
- If you apply by mail
- We recommend you submit photocopies.
- This will make sure you can use the original documents while we process your application.
Using photocopies as your ID
You must
- copy both sides of the document
- have your guarantor or signing official sign and date each side of your photocopies
Using original documents as your ID
We’ll return them to you by mail. They may be sent in separate envelopes.
What’s a signing official?
You use a signing official when you do not have a guarantor. The signing official completes a Statutory Declaration instead of a Guarantor form.
FAQs
Proof of U.S. Citizenship
Original or certified copy of birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (not certificate from the hospital) Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth. Naturalization Certificate. Certificate of Citizenship.
Do you need your original birth certificate to apply for a passport in the US? ›
Proof of U.S. Citizenship
Original or certified copy of birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (not certificate from the hospital) Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth. Naturalization Certificate. Certificate of Citizenship.
Do adults have to put parent information on passport application? ›
Do I have to fill out the "Mother/Father/Parent" sections if my parents are deceased? Or is this section only for minors? Yes, you still need to fill out those sections. These sections are not for minors only.
Do I need to update my Social Security before applying for passport? ›
Please note that you are required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) when applying for or renewing a U.S. passport. A passport application may be denied if you fail to provide a valid SSN (if you were issued one) or wilfully, intentionally, negligently or recklessly provide incorrect or invalid SSN.
What documents do I need for DS-11? ›
Present Proof of Identity
- an original valid passport of any country, or.
- an original national identity card with photograph, or.
- an original valid U.S. or State government ID card, or.
- an original U.S. military ID card, or.
- Any foreign passport that you may currently hold, have held, or been included in, or.
The following will not be accepted as secondary evidence of U.S. citizenship: Voter registration card. Army discharge paper. Social Security Card.
What documents are needed for a US passport? ›
Get a photo ID (and a photocopy)
- Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card.
- In-state, fully valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo.
- Certificate of Naturalization.
- Certificate of Citizenship.
- Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
If the Department of State needs more information, they will let you know. Contact other relatives who might know, and if you still can't find the info, simply state “unknown.” Remember, some people don't even know who their parents are. They can still travel.
Why does a passport application ask for parents' information? ›
Both parents or guardians must approve that we can issue a passport to a child, and go with the child to apply in person.
What is the question 21 on the passport application? ›
DO NOT ENTER SPOUSE OR PARENT IF THAT PERSON WOULD GENERALLY BE TRAVELING WITH APPLICANT. #21 – Please enter any information about a previous U.S. passport applicant may have had. If applicant has an old passport it will need to be submitted with the applicant. If so, mark “Submitting with Application”.
Do I have to provide my Social Security Number on my Passport application? Section 6039E of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6039E) requires you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN), if you have one, when you apply for a U.S. passport or renewal of U.S. passport.
How can I prove my Social Security number without a card? ›
Documents you can use include:
- U.S. ...
- DD214 with full SSN.
- NGB 22 with full SSN.
- W-2 Form with full SSN (including W-2C, W-2G, etc.)
- SSA-1099 Form with full SSN (including SSA-1099-SM, SSA-1099-R-OP1, etc.)
- Non-SSA 1099 Form with full SSN (including 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC, etc.)
- 1098 Form with full SSN (including 1098-C, etc.)
Can you get a passport without a birth certificate? Yes, but you'll need additional secondary evidence of citizenship documents to prove that you are indeed a U.S. citizen. There is specific paperwork that you need. Remember you cannot use a Social Security Card, driver's license or voter registration card.
Can I handwrite my DS-11 form? ›
Print your form single-sided on 8.5 inch by 11 inch letter-sized paper. We do not accept double-sided forms. The only handwritten marks we accept for the Form Filler are your original signature and date.
Do I send all 6 pages of a passport application? ›
Do I submit all 6 pages of DS-82? The State Department gives no specific instructions, so it's advisable to ship all pages.
How to prove citizenship without a birth certificate? ›
How to Gather Secondary Evidence for Proving U.S. Citizenship
- immigration status of your parents at the time of your birth.
- travel history of your parents.
- all the schools you attended and the dates of attendance.
- your residence history.
- siblings' birth details.
- details of your mother's prenatal care.
You will need to submit your original Form N-500, Certificate of Naturalization, AND a photocopy when applying for your U.S. passport. Visit the Department of State's website for more information, passport forms, to find where you can submit your passport application, and to apply for your U.S. passport.
Is a driver's license proof of citizenship in the USA? ›
Enhanced driver's licenses, that provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship, are offered in 5 northern border states as identification for crossing a U.S. border. 31 states, including MO, require proof of lawful residence to obtain a driver's license (NCSL 2023).
Can I use US birth certificate instead of passport? ›
U.S. citizens under age 16 may present a birth certificate or alternative proof of citizenship when entering by land or sea. All travelers must have a passport book for international air travel. Please note that hospital-issued birth certificates, voter registration cards, and affidavits cannot be used.
